These past two meetings were really engaging and interactive. I find myself enjoying this course as it is very different from the conventional courses where you memorize material and regurgitate information on a test. During our most recent class meeting, we had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Casa de Mañana in order to ask them questions or have them ask questions to us in a form of intergenerational exchange. I thought this senior living community was so pretty. However I do think it is pricy for the average person. I also met with Alice, a 102 year old women who gave me some advice about being a women in the modern day. Within my group we discussed the topic of culture. Specifically with how in our cultures, people are typically expected to live with or look after their parents compare to the values here in the United States. To me, this creates a sort of internal cultural conflict, as I’ve grown up hearing from media and learning for myself the importance of independence, which is traditionally signified by one’s own home and other factors. However, after growing up and learning about how the senior experience is in the United States, especially for those with less money, I’ve come to realize that the help that I could provide to my parents could make a large difference in the future. As I continue my education and working towards my career I hope to help resolve this and help my parents in the future.
This quarter has been a fantastic experience so far that has broadened my knowledge and scope regarding healthy aging. Coming into this course I knew I had an interest in serving the elder, but as the weeks have progressed I’ve learned more regarding the stereotypes that must be unlearned, the services that are available and offered to the elders, and how the individual aging experience is for everyone. During this last week in the Life Course Scholars Program, me and some of my classmates fleshed out some ideas and plans for our mini-capstone project. I’m excited for this project but I still feel like there are many logistics me and my group need to plan out. The past Saturday we hosted a Love, Connect, and Care event at the Gary and Mary West Senior Center. It was really great to see everyone so involved especially with the pandemic. This is something that is so important knowing that connection and a sense of belonging are critical to health and well being across the life course. This past Wednesday, we visited Barrio Logan. Me and my group looked at features of the building, physical and social environments including trees, parks, greenery, shade, common spaces with seating, libraries, community center, sidewalks, businesses, and art. We tried to observe these factors through the eyes of an older version of ourselves. However, didn’t see any older residents walking around though to ask them about their experiences as an older adult living in this neighborhood.
It’s week 5, meaning we are halfway done with the quarter! I recently completed my Oral History project with my grandpa, and we had a great time working on this together. As I reflect on my interactions with my EP I realize how lucky I am to grow up in such a privileged environment. Although it was hard trying to find time to meet with my EP in a different time zone, it was worth the wait. Prior to this weekend, I knew very little about his past;t however, this project allowed me to trace back to my roots and understand life better. My grandpa has been my idol since my childhood, and his drive to succeed is what motivates me in my life. This project gave me the opportunity to zoom into his life from when he was a child to the peak of his career as a college principal. I started to realize that he’s the product of his value systems but, more importantly, a series of opportunities he tagged along the way. Our class has weekly discussions about the assigned readings and the main takeaways. Essentially what guided our conversation were the questions we individually created during our reading reflections. We then split up into breakout rooms and are assigned different questions to talk about. In my latest breakout room, I remember we had an insightful conversation about healthy relationships and how to maintain them. This is ultimately based upon love languages, individual values, and the willingness to receive and give help. This conversation allowed me to reflect on my relationship with my elder family members. Especially since my grandparents would also offer me support with anything, I needed like food, clothes, and many other gifts. A lot of what they’ve done for me inspires how I practice healthy relationships with my peers as well.
Prior to the start of USP 141A, I was eagerly excited to go on outings with my fellow classmates. Even though we had to switch to an online format and our in-person plans got canceled, the course has still been pretty enjoyable. As this is my first time being an LCS student, I’m unsure of how this reflection is supposed to go, but from the people I met and the professor, I can say that I’m appreciative of this program. I was really looking forward to the in-person experience but due to the current COVID-19 situation, we all must adjust and make the best through online learning. It’s important for me to still grow as a person and as a student through this online format. During the first week of class, I learned about the determinants of health for the aging population with a focus on the environment they live in. During the lecture, I gained a greater perspective on the aging process. Specifically the environment they choose to age in as well as the infrastructure influence how seniors age. An older person’s life is affected by commonly overlooked details of their environment which include wide sidewalks, even pavements, benches, parks, access to transportation, the proximity of grocery stores, as well as many other factors. Some choose to age in place while others may move to senior housing. It would be interesting to see how technology in the future will advance and affect the aging process. From cars to smart home devices, technological advancements are an exciting addition to elder life.
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Tanmayi AmanchiTanmayi Amanchi is a Human Development major with a minor in General Archives
March 2022
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